oracular

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective oracular contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of oracular are dictatorial, doctrinaire, dogmatic, and magisterial. While all these words mean "imposing one's will or opinions on others," oracular implies the manner of one who delivers opinions in cryptic phrases or with pompous dogmatism.

a designer who is the oracular voice of fashion

When could dictatorial be used to replace oracular?

The meanings of dictatorial and oracular largely overlap; however, dictatorial stresses autocratic, high-handed methods and a domineering manner.

exercised dictatorial control over the office

Where would doctrinaire be a reasonable alternative to oracular?

Although the words doctrinaire and oracular have much in common, doctrinaire implies a disposition to follow abstract theories in framing laws or policies affecting people.

a doctrinaire approach to improving the economy

When is dogmatic a more appropriate choice than oracular?

The words dogmatic and oracular can be used in similar contexts, but dogmatic implies being unduly and offensively positive in laying down principles and expressing opinions.

dogmatic about what is art and what is not

When would magisterial be a good substitute for oracular?

The synonyms magisterial and oracular are sometimes interchangeable, but magisterial stresses assumption or use of prerogatives appropriate to a magistrate or schoolmaster in forcing acceptance of one's opinions.

the magisterial tone of his pronouncements

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of oracular There are, of course, more familiar names that sometimes arise from the oracular mists of the Swedish Academy, particularly over the past few decades, when, though tainted by scandal, the Nobel Committee became, off and on, more, uh, hip—both Bob Dylan and Kazuo Ishiguro come to mind. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2022 These computer models don’t make oracular forecasts. Popular Mechanics, 24 May 2023 Morton describes the origin of Hyperobjects as oracular—like a radio transmission sent from the future. Laura Hudson, Wired, 16 Nov. 2021 His comments were aphoristic or oracular, but often infused with wit. Martin Rees, Discover Magazine, 14 Mar. 2019 See all Example Sentences for oracular 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oracular
Adjective
  • Specifically, Bill becomes increasingly aware of young girls being held and abused by the nuns of his convent, led by a sinister mother superior, Sister Mary (played with dark-eyed, cold-hearted terror by Emily Watson).
    Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Elliot Page translates vitality and promise as the young teen, while a blood-freezing Catherine Keener is the sinister embodiment of resentment and cruelty.
    Declan Gallagher and Chris Bellamy, EW.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Adjective
  • Still, the title proved prophetic, as Give was the Kinks’ third consecutive gold album in America.
    Al Shipley, SPIN, 29 Sep. 2024
  • George Orwell’s 1984 (published in 1949) proved prophetic as book bans consumed the nation under Reagan’s repressive regime.
    Brea Baker, refinery29.com, 25 Sep. 2024
Adjective
  • But unlike the relative low-budget kicks of his previous two films, Glass has lots of portentous self-importance that the movie never quite earns.
    Will Leitch, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2024
  • The big and portentous orchestrations of John Williams play right through both exposition and action scenes like oppressive Musak.
    John H. Dorr, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 July 2024
Adjective
  • Trump’s campaign rhetoric painted the world in apocalyptic terms, portraying himself and his team as hard-nosed realists who understood the danger.
    Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
  • In a presidential cycle that has at times been marked by dark and apocalyptic rhetoric, Harris supporters seemed determined to have a party before the final day of voting on Election Day Tuesday.
    Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Herbert was sacked six times in the first half, including three by the Browns’ menacing Myles Garrett.
    Elliott Teaford, Orange County Register, 4 Nov. 2024
  • The menacing slugger Giancarlo Stanton was retired on a single pitch.
    Nicholas Dawidoff, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Vado continues to focus on expanding its customer base and improving its product offerings, with an emphasis on predictive analytics and creative automation.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
  • With location intelligence, predictive maintenance in utilities can be used to forecast equipment failures by determining geographic patterns of degradation or failure.
    Narendra Babu Vattem, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The company, Wave, is taking aim at AAT deficiency, marked by scarce or defective alpha-1 antitrypsin, a protein that neutralizes baleful enzymes released by immune cells.
    ByMitch Leslie, science.org, 24 Oct. 2024
  • How can this be, given plastic’s baleful reputation?
    Steve Forbes, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Oracular.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oracular. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

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